Airbus Backs Down on Office Return
Airbus reverses plan to reduce remote work after union protests and strikes in Spain, allowing staff to work from home two days a week
Airbus has backed down on its plan to reduce remote working after protests from unions, including strikes in its Spanish facilities. The company will now allow staff to work from home an average of two days a week.
The decision is a blow to CEO Guillaume Faury's campaign to increase on-site presence and share skills among staff. Faury had told staff in June that home-working had been a lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic, but that now the opposite was the case as Airbus sought to ensure skills were shared in person.
Approximately 40% of Airbus' 14,000 workers in Spain have taken part in strikes over issues including teleworking, transport, paid leave, and salary. The strikes, which began in July, have been supported by three Spanish unions, which have called for a three-hour stoppage to vote on a longer walkout.
The company's production has not been affected by the disruption to white-collar ancillary functions. However, the protests have forced Airbus to reconsider its plans to require white-collar staff to work on-site four days a week by September.
Airbus reported strong first-half financial results, with revenue of €33.2 billion for the first six months of 2026, up 12% from a year earlier, and 351 commercial aircraft delivered, up from 306 in the same period of 2025. Despite this, the company faces challenges in meeting record demand and preparing new products with a significant proportion of new staff. Between 25% and one third of Airbus' staff have joined the company in the past three years, according to French unions.
## Why it matters The decision to allow staff to work from home two days a week is a significant concession by Airbus. The company's objective remains the same - to increase on-site presence to ensure better collective efficiency, knowledge transfer, and faster decision-making. However, the protests and strikes have shown that staff are resistant to changes in their working arrangements, and the company must balance its needs with the needs of its employees.
An Airbus spokesperson said that the company's objective remains the same, but that effective change requires listening to its people. Based on employee feedback, the company has decided to implement the transition more gradually. The decision is a significant development in the debate over remote working and the balance between work and personal life.
